Calcutta Football League: East Bengal chase greatness as Bagan look for first win since 2009
The 104th edition of the Calcutta Football League(CFL) is about to begin from the 4th of August 2015. The CFL is the oldest football league in Asia and one of the oldest ones in the world. Although there hasn't been a winner apart from the two Kolkata giants(East Bengal and Mohun Bagan) since 1981, the tournament attracts crowds like bees to honey.
The competition comprises of 11 teams who play each other once and the one on top of the table at the end is crowned Champion of the football crazy state. East Bengal have won the coveted trophy 36 times to Bagan’s 29.
Last season’s CFL was won by East Bengal, as were the previous four and the Red and Gold Brigade will be chasing a record-breaking sixth title this year. With the likes of Ranti Martins in their ranks, it looks likely that they might be able to pull it off.
Mohun Bagan, who ended their I-League drought earlier this year, will be looking to get their hands on the CFL for the first time since 2009. Bagan keeper Debjit Majumdar in a recent interview emphasised the importance of winning the CFL stating, “Since Mohun Bagan has not won the Calcutta Football League for quite sometime now, our first target will be to win this tournament.”
Mohammedan Sporting and Tollygunge Agragami might have an outside chance after their exceptional performance last season where the former dropped seven points in the last four games thereby ending their chances of winning their 12th CFL trophy and their first one since 1981.
The defending Champions begin their campaign against Tollygunge Agragami on the 8th of August while Bagan will play Mohammedan Sporting, a team they lost to in last season’s competition.
The highlight of the CFL namely the Kolkata derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan is scheduled in the last week of the tournament. The game could turn into a title decider and football fans across the City of Joy will undoubtedly be drooling about the possibility of the same.
Aryan, BNR, Army XI, Police AC, SAI, Kalighat MS and Southern Samity complete the roster of the tournament